Customer Reviews

Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: Our Children and Drugs

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For over 24 years I have worked in the field of drug addiction as a counselor. I know Bob Meehan very well. I worked for one of Meehan's programs many years ago. I have seen him prey on the hopeless parents and twist the minds of vulnerable young people on drugs.

Today I am appalled by the things I have witnessed and been involved in. At the time of my involvement I started out a young, single mother hopelessly lost and on drugs. While the program helped me to get off drugs and start a new life I became a prisoner to the cult, bound by my own fear of loosing my new friends and life; of using drugs again if I went to another 12 step program, because they would not understand me.

Today I am happily married, I have raised 3 children of my own and I am a respected member of my community. All of these things go totally against what Meehan and his staff teach. I was told that I should leave my family and be a "winner" in the program. That my parents were not fit and they were my problem.

In a well founded 12 step program I have found true freedom from drugs, alcohol and the Meehan cult. I have a wonderful relationship with my parents now and I understand the importance of love and family.

If you are considering this book or putting your child in one of Meehan's program, please reconsider. There are some true professionals that can help you with your child or your drug problem.

There is a reason that he has been called the "Pied Piper"

In the first four sentences of this book Meehan says, "I am a drug addict. I am an alcoholic. I am a burglar. I am a thief."

You now know everything you need to know about Bob Meehan.

I have met three kinds of people as related to Meehan:
1.) Those who don't know Meehan and therefore, have no opinion of him;
2.) Those who are in his programs and think he's the Messiah, and;
3.) Those who have escaped or been thrown out of his programs and HATE him for what he has done to them.

In the years since I escaped Meehan's hell, I have never found a single person--not even one--who, after having left the program, still believes this second rate con-artist has the answers.

If your working for Pathway, Crossroads, Insight, or Cornerstone, you may have been thinking about leaving for a long time. You may have realized that after all Meehan's years of "working with kids," no one from the old days is still around. Go ahead and leave. You'll lose all your friends in the program, but you'll be okay. You'll make new friends. You won't die. You won't be spiritually bankrupt. You'll no longer live in a state of dread. You can be free from your constant fear. Here's to your last Friday night Staff Purpose. Good luck.

Remember, In Meehan's groups...There are no volunteers--only victims

Can you guess who wrote this Bob?

Check out www.ontheemmis.com for more information about Meehan and his books.

You will find the truth, just as others have.

Solid Advice, I'm not sure where you get your "success rate" figures, but it seems Meehan couldnt back those up when asked by Dan Rather on 60 Minutes... Please read

RATHER: Does the program work? Do the kids get off drugs and stay off? Meehan and his colleagues have repeatedly said that they are 75 to 80 percent successful-but when they are pressed, they day that those figures refer only to the percentage of kids who stay straight for 30 days and get their monkey fist. And when Meehan is pressed further, even that doesn't hold up too well.

MEEHAN: What is success? What are we going to use as a definition for success?

To me, it's one who has become a dues-paying member of society, has returned to school, no longer has a chemical problem-okay?-is moving on to enjoy life to its fullest, and being part of what you and I consider society. In that area, we are more successful than anybody I know of. What about the bottom line dry statistics? Fine. Mr. Rather, 60 MINUTES, if you care to give me $75,000 to do that kind of study and hire the statisticians necessary to do it, I will.

RATHER: Are you saying to me that you don't have any data to back up your claim that you're 75 to 80 percent successful?

MEEHAN: We have- the data we have is quite different from data anybody else has. And see, we don't keep records on people. You- if- if your children came to us, they don't have to give us their right name. They want help, they stay. They don't, they leave.

RATHER: But- pardon me for interrupting-but that- that's part of the problem.

MEEHAN: No stats, yes. We-

RATHER: Again, you see, I find that an absolutely astonishing thing, that you would say, "Mr. Rather, I don't even know the names of most people who come into our place."

MEEHAN: That's right. We're not here for names. We're here to show people a better way to live.

RATHER: Okay, but-

MEEHAN: If you want it, stay. You don't, leave.

RATHER: You can't give me a figure: these are the numbers of people that we had come through our doors nationwide?

MEEHAN: No, we don't have time. We get 400 calls a day from all over the world.

RATHER: Okay. But you don't know how many are coming through the door.

MEEHAN: No.

RATHER: So, how can you day you're 75 to 80 percent successful?

MEEHAN: Because of the times that I ran groups, I knew, when I knew the kids in the group, when I saw how many came in-when I was running a group myself-I saw how many came in, and I knew what it was.

RATHER: Mr. Meehan, I don't doubt for a moment that you did that. But when you boil it down, what you've got is a guess.

MEEHAN: Oh, definitely. Oh, you're right. Definitely, a guess.

RATHER: Okay, so when you say you're 75 to 80 percent effective, you're guessing.

MEEHAN: I'd like to say 70.

RATHER: All right, let's say 70. Let's- let's take a conservative figure. Do you consider that to be conservative?

MEEHAN: No. Conservative, 65 to 70.

RATHER: All right, 65 to 70.

MEEHAN: Okay.

RATHER: I note that we're already down from 75 to 80 percent down to 65 to 70.

MEEHAN: I- do- you haven't talked to me.

RATHER: All right, you- you say 65 to 70. But I say, is that your guess as to how effective you are?

MEEHAN: That's my guess.

I have read this book. I have even worked for programs started by the author. The "miracles" some refer to are indeed initially attractive. However, I implore you to thoroughly review the history of Crossroads, PDAP, Insight, Pathway, SRC, etc. Ask questions before entrusting your children to them. Call state agencies and ask about the program's licensing. Ask to see proof of FORMAL education of counselors AND directors. Do not accept the program based education--it's a sham. Accept COLLEGE degrees from an impartial party. The sobriety rate produced by this book and the programs was said to be 80%. After how long? Why not ask about the kids that have grown up? Where are they? What is the lasting effect of the instructions laid out in this book and the programs? From personal experience I'll tell you that of the 100's of kids I "got sober with" and counseled, I know of only a handful who remain sober and active in a 12-step program. To honest, it is less than 10%. Look at the history. Ask why the constant name changes of the programs? Why the paper trail? What are they hiding, or is it who are they hiding from? If you are turning to this book to help your child, understand that s/he is worthy of you asking these questions. Yes, the transformation can be wonderful, but understand what they are transforming into. Understand that there is heavy baggage that comes with this membership. The author, Bob Meehan, can be a very charismatic man. I agree that this book can be valuable if used a tool, but not as a Bible. Ask, ask, ask. Trust your parental instincts when you are given the answers. God Bless You, if you are in with this crowd--you'll need it.

I entered Meehan's "group" in Atlanta, GA. Over the course of the 6 years I was in the group, I worked for Meehan in St. Louis, Greely Co., and Phoenix Az.
I spent the 6 most miserable years of my life in his group. I wanted to leave but was actually afraid that I would die if I did. I told others that they would probably die if they did.
My family was broken apart. I lost the friends that I had since childhood, I was advised to drop out of highschool so that I could work for Meehan. If you're looking at this book on this site then my guess is your child is in this program. I advise you to take your kid out of Meehan's group NOW.
Instead of looking at "the group" or reading this book, you should consider using some discipline on your child and making them study and stay in school. If you still don't believe that Meehan is running a cult just take a look at the locations for the book reviews.
All of them are in cities that are home to his programs and all of them are by members of his group.

This is a cult. Do not get involved with this man or his followers. many lifes were ruined becuase of his groups.

This book is a must read for any family who is suffering from the effects of alcohol and or substance abuse. It brings a message of hope, and understanding. If you have a child that you are concerned about, this book is a must read.

This man does run a cult. I was in it for a year and 1/2 in my late teens, I guess I didn't appreciate being told I must not associate with anyone outside the "group" including my best friend since childhood, or confiding in the "counselors" only to have them break my confidence....even in my early 20's after I left I realized that "counselors" should probably not be in physical relationships with their teen "patients". I met the man, once....he had been court ordered to have no contact with our group in San Diego. He came to us and assured us that he would still be running things. This man runs a cult. I was the only kid still attending school, all the others were to drop out of high school and home schooled I guess, maybe some of them never graduated, there was too much of a negative influence at school. That is called isolation. It is a symptom of a cult. You are isolated, told that if you leave you will be in grave danger, you might even die. Any contact with outside people was strongly discouraged. I spent all day and all night with "the group", except when I was sleeping. I even feared what would happen to me if I left, but I guess not enough.... I left, got an education, am a professional....I wonder why this man (Bob Meehan) doesn't focus on adult rehab?....there is a whole field of profit he is passing over...that's because he can prey on desperate parents and kids who are easily influenced. Most adults wouldn't put up with this $%$%! The whole cutting off all contact with the outside world probably wouldn't be very profitable with adults, since adults have to work to be able to pay for things. This cannot work long term. People need to learn to deal with the world as it is, the regular stress, the regular everyday problems. We have to fit in, not isolate.

As for helping kids get off drugs...a regular licensed rehab will do fine....a good 12 step program...but there is no easy answer....the person has to want to stop, they say it's not for everyone who needs it, just the ones who want it...the person has to heal spiritually........maybe this cult would be the last resort, if your child is a heroin addict and is headed for certain death and you think life in a cult is better than certain death...maybe.

Here is a good book, a wonderful spiritual book that actually has the answers to life, alcoholism, drug addiction...

http://www.amazon.com/New-Pair-Glasses-Chuck-C/dp/0916733009

Please go to http://ontheemmis.com/ and research this mans past history before you buy anything from him. Dangerous man